$1,527 1Q 2024
-0.7%
92.6% 1Q 2024
-100 BASIS POINTS
14.5% (FEB 2024)
-3.6% (FEB 2024)
* Please note that these employment figures have been adjusted for seasonal variations and are based on Moody’s Analytics forecast as of January 1, 2024.
** Please note that these unemployment rates are estimates that have not been adjusted for seasonal variations, and they are derived from Moody’s Analytics forecast as of January 1, 2024.
QUARTERLY DEMAND
QUARTERLY COMPLETIONS
In a period where many multifamily markets in Florida are seeing reduced renter demand and declining occupancy rates, Panama City is showing comparatively strong performance. Despite a wider marginal gap in the first quarter of 2024, the net absorption rate over the last 12 months has kept pace with the influx of new units. Specifically, approximately 790 apartments were absorbed in the past year, close to the 830 new units that were delivered.
While the stabilized occupancy rate, which we track, saw a slight decrease of 100 basis points from the year prior, the overall vacancy rate, which includes newly completed properties in their lease-up phase, experienced a 40-basis point annual increase. This indicates healthy demand for new, higher-quality units in Panama City, suggesting resilience in its rental market amid broader statewide challenges.
The construction pipeline in Panama City has been slowing down over the last few quarters following the completion of several projects. As of the first quarter of 2024, there are still 1,000 new units expected to enter the market. This slowdown in active construction, coupled with a 19% drop in new apartment starts, suggests that occupancy rates are likely to stabilize after experiencing significant fluctuations over the past two years. This trend indicates a shift towards equilibrium between supply and demand in the local housing market.
Over the past few years, Panama City’s occupancy rates have experienced significant fluctuations, from a low of 76% in the second quarter of 2019—a consequence of Hurricane Michael and the introduction of nearly 600 new units—to a high of 95.7% in the second quarter of 2021, when robust leasing activity coincided with a nearly depleted construction pipeline. Looking ahead, the projections for occupancy are more stable. It is expected to remain in the lower 90% range through the end of 2024, as the market absorbs the output from a slowing development pipeline. This stabilization suggests a return to a more predictable pattern of occupancy that avoids the extreme highs and lows seen in recent years.
The pace of effective annual rent growth in Panama City has been declining since peaking at 10.9% in Q3 of 2021, now marking the fifth consecutive quarter of negative growth. However, forecasts suggest that the worst may be behind the market, with Q1 2024 expected to be the lowest point for rent growth. This period is expected to be followed by a few quarters of flat activity before a gradual resurgence in rent growth commences in Q1 of 2025. By then, annualized rent growth exceeding 2% is anticipated, with the pace likely accelerating to around 3% by the spring leasing season of 2025. This return to growth will more closely align with the long-term historical trends of the market.
Average Monthly Mortgage Payment
Average Monthly Rent
Investment sales activity in Panama City slowed in 2023 after reaching a record high of $430 million in total sales volume the previous year. However, this slowdown should not be interpreted as a sign of weakening investment fundamentals. In fact, the total volume of multifamily properties traded in 2023 ranks as the third best year in the last decade for investment activity. Over the trailing 12 months, the total sales volume amounted to $109 million, with all multifamily investment sales during this period being acquired by either private investors or institutional buyers, indicating continued strong interest in the market.
* Trailing 4Q average PPU
* Preliminary Data from RCA – Individual transaction $2.5M +
Please note that the income and expense data presented in this section is sourced from third-party providers. Our firm does not provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy or reliability of this information. We recommend that users exercise their own discretion and professional judgment when interpreting and utilizing this data.
| Income Assumptions | Value / Unit | Year Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental Income / Occupied Unit | $18,626.76 | 3.1% | |
| Recoverable Expenses / Occupied Unit | $821.48 | 8.6% | |
| Other Income / Occupied Unit | $1,109.16 | 1.8% | |
| Total Income / Occupied Unit | $20,557.40 | 3.3% | |
| Operating Income | |||
| Rental Income | $16,859.15 | 3.4% | |
| Recoverable Expenses | $743.52 | 8.9% | |
| Other Income | $1,003.94 | 2.1% | |
| Total Income | $18,606.61 | 3.6% |
| Operating Expenses | Value / Unit | Year Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | $1,566.20 | 4.3% |
| Repairs & Maintenance | $446.03 | 7.1% |
| Leasing | $617.84 | 7.9% |
| General | $502.33 | -2.9% |
| Marketing & Advertising | $291.46 | 10.9% |
| Repairs & Maintenance | $1,220.54 | 12.0% |
| Cleaning | $234.11 | 8.6% |
| Roads & Grounds | $293.41 | 2.3% |
| General | $693.02 | 17.4% |
| Administrative | $515.94 | 16.7% |
| Security | $52.34 | 18.4% |
| General | $463.60 | 16.5% |
| Management Fees | $551.81 | 3.8% |
| Utilities | $922.84 | -0.9% |
| Electric | $197.00 | -8.2% |
| Gas | $9.08 | -11.0% |
| Water/Sewer | $716.75 | 1.2% |
| Real Estate & Other Taxes | $1,746.36 | 16.3% |
| Insurance | $1,291.03 | 58.0% |
| Other Operating Expensees | $19.45 | |
| Total Operating Expense | $8,125.63 | 14.5% |
| Value / Unit | Year Change (%) | |
| Net Operating Income | $10,480.98 | -3.6% |
|---|
As Panama City moves through 2024, the local apartment market shows signs of stabilization and potential growth following a period of volatility. With the construction pipeline slowing, occupancy rates are expected to stabilize in the lower 90% range, fostering a healthy rental market environment. Investment sales activity, although slower than the record highs of the previous years, remains robust, ranking as one of the best in the past decade, with both private and institutional investors actively participating. Looking ahead, Panama City is positioned for a gradual uptick in rent growth, particularly as the market adjusts to a more balanced supply and demand dynamic by late 2024 into 2025. This promising outlook is underpinned by a resilient local economy and a real estate market that continues to attract significant investor interest.
